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PAINTING.

some very curious specimens of ancient painting, procuredfrom the ruins of Herculaneum , collected by the same inge-nious and tasteful gentleman, Sir William Hamilton , depositedin the Ante-rooin to the Hamiltonian collection, and in glasscases at the upper end of the same collection. It cannotbe doubted, that most distinct societies of men have, afterthe gratification of their first wants, and when leisure hourspermitted the exercise of the ingenious and inventive facul-ties, invented a great variety of useful and ornamental arts;therefore, there cannot be a question, but various arts ofutility as well as ornament, have been invented by a greatvariety of people; who all, agreeably to our anterior defi-nitions, are well entitled to the distinct appellation of origi-nal inventors: consequently, in such a case, the question mustevidently submit to the determination of chronology. Themost original being alone to be determined by its aid, inthat space of the continuity of time, marked by days andyears. The preceding observation we have often in effectfound necessary to introduce to the notice of our readers.

Here it becomes peculiarly essential to present thename of her, who is first elegantly presumed to have intro-duced the art into Greece, ' by a most respectable literary-lady, Mrs. Opie, who attributes it to the daughter of apotter of Corinth , named Eudora; which invention is becomedoubly interesting, first, because of its elegance and utility;and secondly, because it is ascribed to one of the noblestand most powerful passions which distinguish the humanspecies, the wonderful effects of which have given to huma-nity the most exalted and illustrious of actions whichennoble the character of man,—to delicate, refined, andalmighty sexual love. Numerous artists in the Grecianschool brought the art of painting to great perfection, as weare informed; but since its materials are not so durable asare enamelling or statuary, we, the moderns, have noopportunity to satisfy our own judgment of the truth of thoserelations, as w r e have in those arts; but it is reported, thatthere were many eminent artists in Greece ; nor should thenames of Xeuxis and Apelles , and numerous other artistsof that school be omitted, did our limits permit; the latterof whom, we are informed, used only four colours, white,

* lhe art of painting in Greece , as to its original, is, we understand, alsoclaimed by Sicyon and Corinth. Mr. Fuseli has beautifully observed, in his first

lecture illustrative of the latter, that * ** If ever legend deserved our belief tbe amo-rous tale ot the Corinthian maid, who traced the shadow of her departing lover bytbe secret lamp, appeals to our sympathy to grant it."